"Can we talk?" The words came out before he could stop them. Alex's expression shifted immediately, his focus softens. He set his laptop aside, motioning for him to sit on the couch.
"Of course. Everything alright?" Emma swallowed hard as he crossed the room and sank into the cushion next to his dad. His mind raced, searching for the right words, but they wouldn't come. He felt frozen, unsure of how to start.
The couch floated softly like a cloud. Emma sunk into it's comfort as he glances across the room to his old toybox where his old teddybear sat on top. Alex waited patiently, his face softening with concern.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Emma nodded, staring at the floor.
"Yeah, I know." His fingers curled into the fabric of the couch.
"It's just… It's my heart." Alex's posture stiffened slightly, his worry becoming more visible.
"Your heart? What happened?" Emma's throat felt tight as he tried to explain.
"I had a-… an episode during PE today. It hurt more than usual. The nurse said I should think about adjusting stuff… maybe seeing my cardiologist again." His words felt heavy, like each one weighed a ton. He could hear the tension building in Alex's silence.
"How bad was it?" Alex asked quietly, his voice calm but strained. Emma shook his head quickly, trying to downplay it.
"I-It wasn't that bad. I-I mean, I got through the day and everything. B-But…" He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
"But it's happening more often?" Alex finished for him. Emma nodded.
"Yeah." For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Emma didn't dare look up, afraid of what he might see in Alex's eyes. The TV goes silent as it loads. The house unsteady for a moment. But when Alex finally spoke, his voice was calm, steady.
"Thank you for telling me." Emma blinked, surprised. He had expected panic, worry, maybe even anger. But Alex's tone was filled with nothing but support.
"I know it's hard to talk about this stuff, especially when you don't want to worry us. But you did the right thing," Alex continued. "I'd rather know what's going on… even if it's tough to hear… We'll figure it out together, okay?" Emma's chest tightened again, this time not from fear or anxiety, but from a small sense of relief.
"I just didn't want to make you and Sarah freak out," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
"We'll always worry, that's part of being your family," Alex said gently.
"But you don't have to deal with this alone. We're here for you." Emma finally looked up, meeting his dad's gaze. There was concern, sure, but also reassurance in his eyes. It made Emma feel lighter, like some of the weight had been lifted.
"I'm scared, Dad," Emma admitted, the words slipping out before he could stop them. Alex's expression softened even more. He reached out and squeezed Emma's shoulder, a silent promise that he wasn't going anywhere. "I know. And that's okay. We'll take this one step at a time. You're not facing this alone." Alex hugged Emma over the shoulder in silence.
For the first time all day, Emma felt a bit of the tension ease from his body. He didn't have all the answers yet, and the road ahead still felt uncertain. But in this moment, sitting here with Alex, he knew he didn't have to carry it all by himself.
The smell of roasted vegetables and garlic filled the house as Emma sat down at the dinner table. Plates were set with care—Sarah always made sure everything looked picture-perfect, and tonight was no different. The chicken was golden and crisp, laid out on a bed of roasted potatoes with green beans scattered on the side. It was one of those meals that made the house feel more like home.
Sarah was humming softly as she poured water into the glasses. Alex was already at the table, rubbing his hands together like he hadn't eaten in days.
"Looks amazing, Sarah," Alex said with a grin, glancing at Emma.
"You're going to love this one, buddy." Emma smiled back, feeling a little more at ease after their talk. But, there was still an unease in his face as he blankly stares at the food. It was moments like these when things felt normal—no heart monitor beeping, no worries about his next doctor's visit, just family.
"So, how's school going, Emma?" Sarah asked as she settled into her seat. Emma shrugged, reaching for his fork.
"Pretty good. Other than PE class… Just a lot of math today. I helped this girl in my class with a problem." Sarah smirks.
"Oh?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile already creeping onto her face.
"Helping a girl, huh? What's her name?" Emma rolled his eyes, though a blush crept up his neck.
"It's not like that. Her name's Nora, and she was just stuck on something. I just explained the equation." Alex chuckled as he cut into his chicken.
"Explaining equations now, huh? You're basically a tutor."
"Dad—" Emma started, but Sarah cut in, eyes twinkling.
"You know, that's how all great love stories start," she teased. "Helping with math. Next thing you know, you're studying together after school, going for ice cream, holding hands—" Emma groaned, his face turning bright red.
"Stop! It's not like that!" Sarah laughed, reaching over to ruffle his long hair.
"I'm just saying, Emma. You've got the charm. It's only a matter of time before some girl notices." Alex raised his glass in mock agreement.
"Here's to Emma and his future tutoring sessions." Emma shook his head, embarrassed but smiling all the same.
"You guys are the worst," he muttered, though he couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips. As the teasing died down, Emma reached into his pocket and pulled out his medication. It was such a routine part of his day that no one even flinched when he popped the pill and washed it down with a sip of water. For a moment, the table was quiet as everyone took a bite of their food, but it wasn't an awkward silence—just comfortable. Sarah broke the quiet with a softer tone.
"How're you feeling, Em?" He paused, glancing between her and Alex, who gave him an encouraging nod.
"I'm okay. Just… taking it easy."
"That's all we ask," Alex said, offering him a reassuring smile.
"Exactly," Sarah agreed, her teasing tone gone, replaced with a gentler one.
"We've got your back, Emma."